JPH07205443A - Ink cartridge of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a printer ink cartridge which is simple and compact in constitution of an ink reservoir structure and can form a multicolor ink reservoir structure. CONSTITUTION: An ink filter 18 is set to a nose part 12 of an inner frame 20 and, ink bag thin films 22 and 24 impermeable to ink are joined, thereby forming an internal reservoir structure 25. A pressure-regulating mechanism 30 to which plates 40 and 50 alienated by a spring 60 are set in the internal reservoir structure is folded against an elasticity of the spring 60 and stored in the internal reservoir structure to turn the interior of the internal reservoir structure to a negative pressure. Moreover, the inner frame 20 is fitted in an outer housing 17. The ink filter 18 is conformed to an ink emit hole 19 of the outer housing 17 to fluid connect a first and a second jet ports passing through the outer housing 17 to the internal reservoir structure 25 and the ink filter 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to inkjet
More particularly, it relates to ink cartridges for high speed computer driven printers such as linters and plotters, and more particularly to ink cartridges for printers having ink cartridge reservoirs with media marking capability in multicolor applications.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of ink jet printing, ink (or "colorant") is retained in a reservoir and is maintained under sub-atmospheric (or "negative") pressure so that it is mounted in the reservoir. It does not leak from the printhead and cause a "drool" in this area. Such printer cartridges are described in US patent application Ser. No. 995,651 “Kaplinsky”, referenced and incorporated above.

A variety of types, including disposable and refillable ink fountain cartridges attached to movable printer cartridges, and remote or "out-of-board" ink fountains from which ink is drawn through a tubing system to a printhead. Ink reservoir is used.

[0004]

In prior art plate, disposable or refillable, ink fountain cartridges, a polymeric foam is usually provided in the ink fountain, and the capillary action of the polymer foam is the ink printhead. I try to prevent it from leaking inappropriately. Polymer foams of the type typically used for this purpose are non-biodegradable and therefore throwing away the used cartridge creates environmental problems. In addition, the use of industrial foam in the ink fountain limits the operating pressure range of the ink cartridge, leaving chemical residues that are incompatible with or adversely react with the ink in the printer.

Similarly, the use of relatively long tubing to carry ink from the extra-plate pressure reservoir to the printhead does not fit well with different printing pressure ranges.

Therefore, there is a need for out-of-board ink reservoir systems for printers and plotters that do not rely on foam-based ink retention mechanisms.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its basic embodiment, the invention comprises an ink reservoir structure surrounded by an ink cartridge of a printer, wherein the ink is maintained under negative pressure. It is like this. The structure is sealingly joined around a pair of edges extending to the perimeter of its opposite sides, first and second ink ejection ports extending therethrough, and its perimeter to provide the first and second inks, respectively. A substantially rigid frame with at least three flexible, ink impermeable membranes forming at least two ink reservoirs in fluid communication with the ejection port.

Disclosed is a printer-ink cartridge having an ink reservoir adapted to maintain ink under negative pressure with respect to a printhead connected to a cartridge device. The cartridge includes a pair of peripheral edges on opposite sides of the cartridge, a pair of lid plates each engaging one of the peripheral edges to form an envelope, and at least first and second penetrating the housing. A substantially rigid housing having an ink ejection port; an ink that is sealingly joined within the housing such that each is in fluid communication with one of the first and second ink ejection ports, respectively. At least three flexible, fluid-impermeable membranes forming first and second reservoirs for retaining; and in each of the first and second reservoirs, respectively. By one, each adapted to maintain the negative pressure to said reservoir each comprises at least two means to adjust the pressure.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a foldable ink fountain structure and a printer ink cartridge with the structure that is easy to configure.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide a multicolored ink fountain structure.

It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide independent, controllable, pressure regulation with a multicolor ink reservoir structure.

It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge of compact construction.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. Similar reference symbols in the figures represent similar features throughout the figures.

It should be understood that the drawings referred to in this description are not drawn according to proportions unless otherwise noted.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now in detail to a particular embodiment, the best mode presently contemplated by this invention for carrying out the invention is shown. Alternative embodiments are also briefly described where applicable. Although the present invention has been described in terms of an inkjet printer, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments can be readily adapted to other types of printers and plotters.

A replaceable ink cartridge 1 in FIG.
A pair of lids 0 are provided on the edges of the opposite sides of the plastic peripheral wall portion 16 and are spaced apart by press fit, cement bonding, ultrasonic welding, etc. to form a closed cavity. It can be seen that it comprises a rigid outer housing 17 having plates 12,14. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the nose portion 13 of the outer housing 17 located at the bottom of the peripheral wall portion 16 passes ink through the ink filter 18 and generally ejects the ink from the printhead to the print medium. An electrically driven printhead (not shown) having a nozzle plate with orifices is provided with ink ejection holes 19 for ejection downward.

Inner frame 2 of relatively stiff plastic
0 and a flexible ink bag membrane 2 attached to it
A reservoir structural unit consisting of 2, 24 is attached to the plastic peripheral wall portion 16.

Alternatively, in the preferred embodiment, the inner frame 20 may be integrally formed with the outer housing 17 in an injection molding process. Preferably, the inner frame 20 is formed of a plastic that is softer and has a lower melting point than the outer housing 17 and a material that is compatible with the ink bag membranes 22, 24 to provide a sealed thermal bond. This is co-pending US patent application Ser. Nos. 994,807,994 and 058,73, which are incorporated by reference above.
It can be done in a two-step molding process as disclosed in No. 0. The inner frame 20 may be constructed with some flexibility to aid in its mounting inside the peripheral wall portion 16 of the outer housing 17, but it is less rigid than the ink bag membrane described below. Yes.

The inner frame 20 is provided with a pair of opposed edges 21, to which flexible ink bag thin films 22 and 24 are respectively joined to their peripheral edges by heat welding or the like to form an ink reservoir structure. Is formed. The ink bag membrane is of a material that is fluid impermeable to the ink that is intended to be contained in the reservoir.

The reservoir structure preferably comprises a pressure regulator 30. The reservoir pressure regulator 30 comprises a pair of substantially parallel plates 40, 50 spaced apart by a spring 60 to engage the ink bag membranes 22, 24. Thus, negative pressure is maintained as more fully described in co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 995,851, which is incorporated by reference above.

Inner frame 20, ink bag thin film 22, 2
4, and the assembled reservoir structure including pressure regulator 30 is then mounted inside the peripheral wall portion 16 of the cartridge. The lid plates 12, 14 are then attached to the peripheral wall portion 16 of the cartridge housing.

The nose portion 13 of the outer housing 17 also includes an ink filter 18 placed in fluid communication with the flexible ink bag membrane. The ink filter 18 can be mounted inside the inner reservoir structure 25, or outside the inner reservoir structure 25 but inside the outer housing 17, with minor modifications to the ports and seals to remove the ink filter 18 from the reservoir. It can be installed with reliable fluid communication up to. Such an ink filter is owned by the assignee in common with the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,29.
No. 5, "Baker" et al.), And U.S. Patent Application, ^ C, referenced and incorporated above.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the plates 40,50 as side plates of the pressure regulator are generally of rectangular construction with rounded corners to avoid damaging the flexible ink bag membranes 22,24. is there. Before or at the same time as attaching the ink bag thin films 22 and 24 to the side surface of the inner frame 20, the pressure regulator 30 is partially folded against the spring force and installed in the inner frame 20.
0 and the inside of the ink bag formed by the ink bag thin films 22 and 24 so as to occupy the prestressed state.
The amount of this prestress can be easily controlled by the designer by selecting the desired degree of compression of the spring 60.

As is known in the art, the ink is
It is introduced into the assembled cartridge, typically by injecting ink into the cartridge through holes (not shown) that can be inserted through the frame membrane.

In operation, the flexible ink bag membranes 22,24 and the pressure regulator plates 40,50 move progressively toward each other as the reservoir ejects ink. The ink bag membranes 22 and 24 are sufficiently close to their edges of attachment to the inner frame 20 to allow free movement of the side plates, ie, plates 40 and 50, between the full and empty positions as best shown in FIG. It is sized with extra material. This allows most of the ink in the internal reservoir structure 25 to be used, or possibly refilled, until the cartridge is discarded.

Ideally, both side plates, that is, plates 40, 5
0 and spring 60 are made of a non-corrosive metal such as stainless steel, and ink bag membranes 22, 24 are made of an inert plastic that does not react with the printing ink. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the regulator mechanism need not be mounted inside the sump. A wide range of variations have been envisioned by the inventor that perform the same negative pressure function at the ink discharge holes 19.

An alternative embodiment of the internal reservoir structure 25 is shown in FIG.
And shown in FIG. Such an embodiment generally helps to use three colorants (such as yellow, magenta, and cyan) to create the full range of print color mix.

An ink jet cartridge 10A adapted to accommodate a plurality of internal reservoir structures can be constructed by modifying the ink cartridge 10 having the structure shown in FIG. In the preferred embodiment for full color printing, three internal reservoir structures are created by adding two separate pressure regulators 30A, 30B. Each pressure regulator mimics the original. For example, the additional pressure regulator 30A comprises plates 40A, 50A and an interposer spring 60A. Similarly, pressure regulator 30B
Also has plates 40B, 50B and springs 60B. The additional pressure regulators 30A, 30B are ink bag membranes 22 which each provide two additional reservoir membranes to form a three reservoir system.
It is put between A and 24B.

The inner frame 20A is composed of, for example, two halves, and an ink bag thin film, which is a reservoir film having an interposing adjuster for each of them, is fixedly attached thereto. [For example, in other contemplated embodiments, a third inner frame portion is interposed between the other two portions and between the central reservoir membrane (including the central pressure regulator) ink bag membrane. By making appropriate design variable adjustments, the capacity of all three reservoirs can be increased or decreased. ] However, in the preferred embodiment, the inner frame 20 A has a peripheral wall portion 16 of the outer housing 17.
A two-shot mold configuration having a cross-sectional dimension A smaller than the cross-sectional dimension B of 1 is integrally molded approximately in the center of the inside of the outer frame 17. The exact size is predetermined based on the required reservoir volume, manufacturing tolerances, and other design factors that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Ink bag thin film 22, 22A, 24, 24A
The size of is determined by a given design to hold a given volume of each colorant, which may be equal or different. Although depicted in a tense configuration, it is understood that, for example, an outer ink bag membrane 22A is designed to be applied such as by heat welding to form a seal with the opposing edge 21 of the inner frame 20A. Should be.
The other ink bag membrane is pushed to the lid plate 12 by the pressure regulator plate 40A when the reservoir is filled and to the greatest extent possible when the possible ink has been exhausted sufficiently through the printing process. The shape is predetermined so that it can be folded inside. Similarly, the ink bag thin film 22 (which is attached to the opposite edge 21 of the internal frame 20 as shown in FIG. 1) which is an internal reservoir film has a different shape, and is now in a predetermined design method. Since it is adapted to be attached to the inner ridge 101 of the inner frame 20A, it is somewhat smaller than the outer ink bag thin film 22A.

Again, although the drawn film is tense, in reality, the four ink bag thin film films 22, 22A, 24, 24A are
Is a flexible membrane, and thus the volumetric capacity of each individual reservoir can be made approximately the same or different by selecting the appropriate design variables. Generally, these ink bag membranes are made of polypropylene and polyethylene with a metal membrane or composite sandwiched between them, such as "CURLAM" (registered trademark) commercially available from "Curwood, Inc.". It is composed of a thin sheet of copolymer.

The pressure regulator devices 30, 30A, 30B are also
Certain variables, such as plate geometry and spring constant, are used to design to meet the needs of the particular printer in which the ink cartridge 10 is to be used. Thus, the ink cartridge 10 can be "tuned" to the designer's needs.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, according to the three reservoir construction modification, the inner frame 20A provides a port and ink filter device for each separate reservoir.

The nose plug 100 (which can be integrally molded with the inner frame 21A of FIG. 4) is provided for each reservoir formed inside the outer housing 17 numbered 103, 105, and 107, respectively. It is one ink inlet port. 1 for each of the 3 reservoirs
Only one entrance port and individual grooves 103A,
Fluidic communication with respective output ports 119, 119A, 119B via 105A, 107A. Each inlet port 103, 105, 107 can be equipped with a separate ink filter 18 (not shown). Nib 1
09 is provided to prevent the reservoir membrane from completely folding over the ink filter 18, limiting or interrupting the flow of ink therethrough.

In the triple reservoir ink jet cartridge 10A as shown in FIG. 5, the spring 60 of the coil spring type pressure regulator shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 is replaced by a spring 60A having a double leaf spring structure. A spring 60A of such a double leaf spring mechanism is incorporated by reference above, 1992 1
It is described in co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 07 / 928,811 “Khodapanah et al.,” Filed February 8.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, the configurations disclosed herein can be easily modified to provide only two compartments for a two color application (eg, black and red), and Can be eliminated and cost reduced, or can be expanded to provide more than three ink compartments (eg black and three colors) by adding extra internal frames, membranes and pressure regulators. it can. Similarly, for ease of construction and assembly, a ridge may be used on the inner surface of the inner frame 20 of the ink cartridge 10 to accommodate a reservoir film,
That is, the inner frame member can be eliminated by sticking the ink bag thin film.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, the process steps described may be interchanged with other steps to achieve the same result. The examples best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application of its best modes, so that those skilled in the art can understand the invention as appropriate for the particular application envisioned for it and its various modifications. I chose to. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Although the respective embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, in order to facilitate understanding of the respective embodiments, the respective embodiments are summarized and listed below.

1. Surrounded by printer ink cartridges, ink should be kept under negative pressure,
An ink cartridge for a printer, comprising: a) a substantially rigid frame having a pair of edges extending around opposite sides thereof and at least first and second ink ejection ports extending therethrough; At least three that are sealingly joined around and form at least two ink reservoirs that are in fluid communication with the first and second ink discharge ports, respectively.
A printer ink cartridge consisting of two flexible ink impermeable membranes.

2. The thin film is further bonded to the frame to form a fluid tight seal therein.
The ink cartridge of the printer described in 1.

3. Further, the ink cartridge of the printer according to the above item 1, further comprising an ink pressure adjuster means for separating the adjacent thin films from each other inside each of the reservoirs.

4. The ink cartridge of the printer according to the above item 1, further comprising an ink pressure regulator configured to maintain a negative pressure with respect to the ejection port in each of the reservoirs.

5. 5. The ink cartridge of the printer according to the above item 4, wherein each of the reservoirs is provided with an individual pressure regulator having a predetermined negative pressure set value.

6. Each of the regulator means is installed with a gap between each leaning against the adjacent thin film,
4. An ink cartridge for a printer as described in claim 3 including a pair of substantially parallel flat plates, and means for spacing the plates to engage adjacent membranes.

7. Each of the plates is an ink cartridge of a printer as described in 6 above, which is bonded to its respective adjacent membrane.

8. An ink cartridge for a printer having an ink reservoir adapted to maintain ink under negative pressure relative to a printhead connected to a cartridge device, the pair of ink cartridges on opposite sides thereof. A peripheral edge, a pair of lid plates adapted to engage one of the peripheral edges to form an envelope, and at least first and second ink ejection ports extending through the housing;
A substantially rigid housing having at least three flexible, fluid-impermeable membranes sealingly joined within the housing to form first and second ink reservoirs holding ink. A thin film adapted for fluid communication with one of the first and second ink discharge ports, one in each of the first and second ink reservoirs. , At least two means for adjusting the pressure, each of which is adapted to maintain the negative pressure for each of the reservoirs.

9. 9. An ink cartridge for a printer according to claim 8, further comprising at least two means mounted between the reservoirs and the ejection ports for filtering ink flowing out from the reservoirs.

10. 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising means for sealing the membrane to form the first and second ink reservoirs within the housing such that each reservoir has a predetermined shape and size. The ink cartridge for the printer.

11. 11. The ink-jet printer according to claim 10, wherein the means for sealing the membrane comprises an inner frame formed in the housing and sealingly mounted on the thin film.
It is a cartridge.

12. An ink cartridge for a printer as set forth in claim 5, further comprising means within the housing, sealingly joined to the thin film, for maintaining a substantially predetermined peripheral shape and size for each of the reservoirs. .

13. 13. The printer ink cartridge of claim 12 wherein the means for maintaining a generally predetermined peripheral shape and size for each reservoir formed by the membrane comprises a ridge on the inner surface of the housing. .

14. 1 wherein said means for maintaining a substantially predetermined peripheral shape and size comprises an inner frame
2 is an ink cartridge of the printer described in 2.

15. The housing and the inner frame are made of plastic, and the melting point of the inner frame is lower than that of the housing.
The ink cartridge of the printer described in 1.

16. Each of the means for adjusting pressure further comprises a pair of spaced side-by-side substantially parallel plates.
And spring means mounted between the plates to force the plates away from one another to engage at least two adjacent membranes,
9. The ink cartridge of the printer according to 8 above, which further comprises:

17. Furthermore, in the housing,
A nose portion adapted to mount a printhead thereon, each upstream of said first and second exhaust ports, each in fluid communication with said one of said two reservoirs; 9. An ink cartridge for a printer as described in 8 above, comprising at least two means for filtering ink fountain effluent.

18. The housing further has a housing ejection port therethrough for mounting the printhead thereon, means for filtering ink flowing from the reservoir through the discharge port, the nose. A means for retaining the filtering means in the part, the means comprising at least two inlet ports, 2
Two outlet channels and two individual channels connecting each individual inlet port to a respective output port, each reservoir being fluid through only one of said filtering means and only one of said first and second injection ports. 9. The ink cartridge of the printer according to the above 8, further comprising means for making communication.

19. An improved ink jet cartridge for a printer comprising an ink fountain housing and a nozzle plate attached thereto which has an ink ejection orifice in fluid communication with three ink ejection ports in the housing Printer ink with multiple compartment ink reservoir
A cartridge having a first shape and size
A foldable bag and a first pressure regulator in the bag connected to a first one of the front ink ejection ports, a first sump compartment, the first sump A second foldable bag of a predetermined shape and size adjacent to the compartment, and a second pressure regulator in the bag and in communication with a second of the ink ejection ports; A second reservoir compartment, a third collapsible bag of a predetermined shape and size adjacent the second reservoir compartment, and a third collapsible bag of the ink ejection port in the bag. 3 is a printer ink cartridge comprising a third reservoir compartment having a third pressure regulator connected thereto.

20. Adjacent collapsible bags are the ink cartridges of the printer of 17 above that share a common wall between them.

21. The ink cartridge of the printer according to the above 17, further comprising: a pressure regulator for each reservoir compartment that maintains a negative pressure with respect to ink ejection from the print head.

22. 18. The printer ink cartridge of claim 17, wherein each pressure regulator is adjustable to provide equal or different negative pressure to the reservoir compartment.

23. 21. An ink cartridge for a printer as set forth in claim 20, further comprising means for holding each reservoir compartment in the housing in a predetermined peripheral shape and size.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, at least two ink ejection ports are formed by penetrating the pair of edges extending around the opposite side surfaces of the rigid frame, and the ink ejection ports are formed. A flexible ink impermeable thin film is sealed and joined to the surrounding area, and an ink reservoir that allows fluid to pass through the ink ejection port is formed, and the ink in the ink reservoir is held at a negative pressure. Therefore, it is possible to form a foldable ink reservoir structure with a simple structure, and also to make it compact and to provide a multicolor ink reservoir structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge of a disposable or refillable printer of the present invention for a thermal inkjet printer with a collapsible ink reservoir structure.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cartridge of FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a reservoir structure for use with the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional plan view of one embodiment of an ink cartridge for a printer of the present invention that uses the reservoir structure of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view (front view) of a nose structure of an ink filter which can be applied to an alternative embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG.
Is.

7 is a perspective view of the nose structure of the ink filter shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Ink Cartridge 10A Inkjet Cartridge 12,14 Lid Plate 13 Nose Part 16 Peripheral Wall Part 17 Outer Housing 18 Ink Filter 19 Ink Discharge Hole 20,20A Inner Frame 21 Opposite Edge 22,22A, 24,24A Ink Bag Thin Film 25 Internal retaining structure 30, 30A, 30B, pressure regulator 40, 40A, 59, 50A plate 60, 60A, 60B spring 100 nose plug 101 internal ridge 103, 105, 107, ink input port 103, 105A, 107A groove 109 nib 119,119A, 119B exit port

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor David W. Swanson Escondido Felicita Road, California, USA 2750 (72) Inventor George T. Caplinski San Diego, California, USA 9050 (72) Inventor Toffee Coda Panner San Diego, California, USA Sokoco City 4156

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer ink cartridge adapted to maintain ink under a negative pressure with an ink reservoir structure enclosing a printer ink cartridge comprising: a) an opposite side surface of the ink cartridge; A substantially rigid frame having a pair of perimeter edges extending therethrough and at least first and second ink ejection ports extending therethrough, b) hermetically sealed about its perimeter, said first and second respectively. A printer ink cartridge comprising at least three flexible ink impermeable membranes forming at least two ink reservoirs in communication with an ink ejection port.